My friend Greg writes:
Flying under the radar at the Super Bowl was the possible significance of the music played in the stadium during the team introductions. The Patriots ran onto the field to the heavy metal, maniacal sounds of Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train." The Seahawks' entrance was accompanied by the catchy strings of the Verve's "Bitter Sweet Symphony," which, in comparison, is like a delicate piece of classical music.
Considering the way the game ended, this may regrettably say something about the mentality it takes to win a football game – especially the biggest one.
The Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston has been suspended for one half for shouting obscenities on campus.
"I want to apologize to my teammates because I have now made a selfish act for them," the Heisman quarterback said.
It's good there are no suspensions for bad syntax.
The few times I covered tennis tournaments, I enjoyed chatting with the Japanese journalists, who were there for one reason: to cover Kei Nishikori. As soon as he lost, they were sent home. You'd come in one day and their work stations would be empty.
So I felt sorry for them yesterday as I watched their man go down in straight sets. But then I thought: At least they got to stay till the end.
I went to the old Orange Bowl Stadium once - to watch Brazil and Hungary play soccer. The stands were a sea of yellow and green, with one small pocket of red-white-and-green flags. The people around me were all speaking Portuguese.
Two years ago I went to Sun Life Stadium to watch an exhibition match in which Lionel Messi took part. Everyone around me was speaking Spanish.
I suspect that Miami's new MLS team will not hurt for fans.
The announcers at the Australian Open repeatedly pointed out the tattoo on the arm of the ultimate men's champion of a quote from Samuel Beckett: "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better."
Though none of them mentioned that the Irish writer loved watching tennis on television. In fact, his interest in the game could have been the inspiration for the quote.
(Note to readers: As you may have noticed, the Saturday blog was not a good idea.)
I'd been enjoying the Australian Open but last night's Cibulkova-Radwanska match seemed to suggest that touch and craftiness can take you only so far. Which doesn't bode well for Federer today. It also explains why I tend to lose interest in tournaments around the quarterfinals.